Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 91767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
“Hardly,” I fake a smile. “We should go.” I grab my purse and shawl; I walk to the front door as his hungry eyes look me up and down.
Ugh…
How times change; for years I’ve wanted him to look at me like this and now that he is, I don’t want a bar of it.
I just want to see Dylan.
Focus.
Tell Rodney that it’s over, give him an out option of tonight and then call Dylan.
Right, I can do this.
We walk out the front door and look out to his car and stop on the spot.
What?
Rodney’s mother is sitting in the front seat of the car, she waves, and I fake a smile.
What. The. Actual. Hell?
“Your mother is coming with us?”
“Isn’t she your best friend?” he mutters deadpan.
Not tonight, asshole.
I get into the backseat and shuffle over. “Hi Mary.”
“Hello, Zoe, you look lovely.”
“Thanks. So do you.”
Rodney starts the car and pulls out onto the street.
Is this a joke?
I want to talk to him, but I can’t do it in front of his fucking mother.
Unbelievable.
What if I really was planning on this being a romantic get back together night?
Ugh, this is the night from hell already.
I take out my phone and text Dylan.
Missed seeing you today
I wait for a reply, but it doesn’t come. He must be busy.
I really did miss him today, and I smile as I picture his beautiful face. Maybe I should call and ask him to come and pick me up, would that be weird?
Rodney and his mom chat happily in the front seat, and I stare out the window as we drive along.
I have this sick sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, I’m feeling guilty for not telling Dylan I was coming here tonight, but I didn’t want him to think the worst. I wouldn’t be happy if he was going to a wedding with his ex.
Fucks sake.
Why is Mary in the damn car?
“The church service is private,” Rodney says.
“Oh, is it?” I reply, distracted. I’m trolling my brain for a plan.
This is not going how I want it to, it’s a nightmare.
“Yeah, only the bridal party and their parents are attending. We are going straight to the reception hall,” he replies.
“Okay, that’s different.”
Good for them, doing what they want to do. An intimate wedding would be nice.
“Rodney told me the exciting news.” Mary smiles over at me from the front seat.
“What news?” I ask.
“That you two are getting back together,” she gushes in an over-excited way. “The future is so bright for you two.”
“What?” My eyes flick to Rodney in the rearview mirror, and he winks.
“Oh….. that’s.” Words fail me. Fuck, all I’ve wanted is for this to happen and now that it is, it’s my worst nightmare. “Rodney and I are just good friends,” I tell her.
“Yeah right,” Rodney laughs, “If you say so.”
“Rodney…..”
“We were always getting back together, babe,” he cuts me off. “Like you said, it was just a break,” he says as he drives along.
“It’s been a long time and things between us have changed.” I fake a smile, take a hint asshole.
“You missed me, I know you did.” He winks all playful-cements it all
like again.
I did…. but now, I don’t.
Awkward.
What do I do? If I tell him now in front of his mother, I look like a raving bitch.
Shit.
“Zoe is playing hard to get tonight, Mom.” Rodney smiles over at her and then his eyes flick back to me. “It’s kind of a turn on, actually.”
What?
You idiot.
My god, this is going from bad to worse. Okay, what’s the plan?
I begin to sweat.
I think of all the times I’ve cried to his mother about my broken heart and now, when I finally realize that we are not meant to be together, it’s come to this case of the worst timing ever…… oh hell, this looks so bad.
“This is turning out to be the best night, isn’t it?” Mary says happily from the front seat. “Our family is getting back together.”
I fake a smile.
Fuck.
The ballroom is grand and beautifully timeless.
There are huge bouquets of white flowers, candelabras with white candles, and the finest silver dinnerware on the perfectly set tables.
Mary smiles and waves at a friend.
“Wow.” I smile as I look around, “This is beautiful.”
“Meh,” Rodney says as he looks around. “How much would this crap cost?”
“Rodney, it’s a wedding. The most special day in a person’s life,” his mother says.
He rolls his eyes and curls his lip, “I’m not into it.”
I stare at him as I have an out of body experience.
The statement that cements it all.
Everything in Rodney’s life is about Rodney, and all the insecurities I’ve been feeling for years, was just my gut warning me that something wasn’t right.
That he wasn’t the one.
I smile, and for the first time ever, my future feels crystal clear.
Unencumbered.
“Oh, look. There are the guys,” says Rodney. “I'll be back in a minute.”